Bearing



Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

were

JOSIAH F. JOHNSON, 0F SWARTHIVIORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. COEPGRATION 0F PENN- SYLVANIA.

BEARING.

Application filed August 8, 1921.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH F. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and'useful Improvement in Bearings, of which thefollowing is a specification.

I My invention relates to lubricated bearings and has for itsobject to provide a method and means for oiling bearings, which, in operation, tend to develop wedgeshaped or tapered oil films, whereby cool oil 'tion of my invention to athrust bearing of the tilting-shoe type;

Fig. 2is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 and also showing a section of a portion of the thrust collar;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing the bafiie structure for blocking the spaces between shoes:

Fig. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of an assembled hearing; and x Fig. 4 is a view of an ordinary journaled bearing showing my improvement applied thereto.

In thrust bearings of the well-known Kingsbury or tilting shoe type, it is essential to provide sufiicient oil which shall be cool enough to allow for the formation of proper, load-sustaining, .wedge-sh-aped oil lms. A hearing of this type is usually immersed in a bath of oil, the oil being ordinarily maintained in circulation for cooling purposes. However, the lubrication schemes heretofore proposed do not provide for the supplying of fresh oil to the leading or inlet edge of each shoe, but a large portion of the oil which has constituted a preceding film and which has been heated on account of the high pressures and friction, enterswlth the fresh oil, thus raising the temperature of the entering oil and precluding the possibihty Serial NO. 490,750.

of the formation of as good a film as might result if all of the entering oil should be fresh and relatively cool. It is, accordingly, the object of my invention to provide a thrust bearing of the character indicated, with means which shall insure the deflection of oil which has passed through the film stage and the supplying of relatively cool, flresh oil to the leading or inlet side of each s we.

My invention is'also applicable to an ordinary journal hearing, it being only necessary to provide for the entry of oil at a suitable place for the formation of a tapering film and to provide for the deflection of the oil after it has passed through the thin-portion stage. In this way, as in the preceding example, oil which has passed through the film, stage and been heated due to the hearing pressure and friction is positively deflected, thus preventing contamination to any appreciable extent of the entering fresh oil.-

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of my invention, 1 show a shaft 10; which, in operation, is submitted to a thrust load. provided with a thrust collar 11, which bears on a series of segmental shoes 12, tiltably mounted at 13 with respect to a self-alining or self-adjusting support 14. A sleeve 14' surrounds the shaft 10, so as to provide, an oil supply space between the sleeve and the inner ends of the segmental shoes 12. These parts are of a well known construction and will not be further described.

In the old type of construction, oil flows in the radial spaces between the shoes and cooperates with the thrust collar and with the tiltable shoes so that the latter may glide over the oil adhering to the thrust collar and tilt to form load-sustaining,wedge-shaped oil films. The oil is heated as it passes through the film stage and a portion of the heated oil mixes with the relatively cool oil supplied for the following shoe, resultingin raising the temperature of the latter oil and consequently heating the oil which is discharged from the leaving side of the following shoe to a still higher temperature, therebv resulting in the temperature of the inlet oil being at a higher point than the supply. Accordingly, I show baffle means 15 arranged between the shoes for the purpose of deflecting the oil passing from the leaving sides thereof. Preferably, the battle or deflector constitutes the forward wall of an oil supply chamber 16 extending throughout the width of the leading side of a shoe, but for outer end.

The segmental shoes 12 are provided with bafiies 18 which block theradial spaces between the leaving sides of the shoes and the following deflectors or battles, and serve the double purpose of compelling the cool oil to flow into the chambers 16 and of preventing the heated oil from passing in and contamihating the cool oil. The outer closing wall 17 of each chamber 16 is preferablv'provided with an outlet or discharge port 19, so as to permit only suflicient circulation to maintain a reasonably cool oil supply for the leading sides of the shoes without material reduction in oil pressure. The ports 19 assure that the chambers 16 shall be filled with fresh oil while the bearing is in operation, thereby preventing possible oil deficiency due to air pockets which might form should the ports not be provided.

, Apparatus of the tilting shoe type, made in accordance with my invention and involving my new method, operates as follows:

Circulation of oil is produced, as heretofore, between the leaving and leading sides of the shoes, but, in accordance with my invention, battles are provided to compel the relatively cool oil to flow into the inner radial ends of the supply chambers 16 provided at the leading sides of the shoes, each shoe carrying a battle member 15, preferably constituting one wall of the chamber 16 and serving to deflect heated oil passing from the leaving side of a preceding shoe, and a batlle 18 to block the spaces between the shoes. The ports 19 in the outer walls 17 of the chamhers 16 serve to maintain just suliicient circulation in order to keep such chambers full of oil under the proper pressure to assure a sufficient supply to the front or leading edges of the shoes.

eferring to Fig. at, a shaft 20 is shown mounted in a bearing comprising upper and lowerportions 21 and 22, the shaftrotating in the direction of the arrow. The oil inlet 23 is provided at the top of the shaft and is so located as to be in the vicinity of the place where the tapered film starts to form. An oil outlet 24 is arranged at the left-hand side of Fig. 3 and communicates with a longitudinal chamber 25 provided with a battle or deflector 26 extending throughout the major portion of the length of the bearing and constituting the upper wall of the chamber... The battle cooperates with the shaft 20 to deflect the thin film of oil thereon into "the channel 25 from which it flows to the outlet 24:. The chamber 25 and the deflector or batile 26 are so located as to secure removal of oil after it has passed through the tapered film stage and been heated up due to friction and pressure, thereby preventing contamination to any appreciable extent-of the enteringrelatively cool oil. the thickness of a closure portion 17 at the The method employed in the structure of Fig. l is also involved in the'structure-o'f Fig. 4:, namely, to supply relatively cool oil ti) a portion of abearing where the formation of the film starts and to remove the oil after it has passed through stages of diminlishing thickness in the film and absorbed ieat.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a method and apparatus, which is capable of carrying out the method, whereby the oil supplied to bearings, particularly those operating under high speeds and wherein high unit pressures prevail, may be maintained relatively cool.

lVhile I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A lubricated bearing adapted, in operation, to form a tapered film, means for supplying oil to the bearing where the tapered film starts to form. and means to deflect oil from the bearing after it has passed through the tapered-film stage.

2. A hearing comprising a plurality of cooperating members which, when lubricated and in operation, form a load-sustaining tapered oil film, an inlet supplying oil where the tapered film starts to form, an oil outlet, and 'baiiie means to deflect oil into the outlet after it has passed through the tapered-film stage.

3. A lubricated bearing comprising a plu; rality of bearing members which. in operation, cause the formation of a load-sustaining wedge-shaped or tapering oil film, means for supplying lubricant to the place where the film starts to form, outlet means for oil which has passed through the tapered-film stage, means cooperating with the outlet means to. assure the Passage therethrough of the major portion of the lubrirant which has passed through the taperediilm stage, whereby the heated lubricant is removed and relatively cool lubricant is supplied! for the formation of the him.

4. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of shoes cooperating therewith, means between the shoes for deflecting oil discharged from the leaving sides thereof, and means for supplying oil to the leading sides of the shoes.

1 .,4 rear? 5. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of shoes cooperating therewith, means between the shoes for deflecting oil discharged from the leaving sides thereof, and means for supplying oil to the leading sides of the shoes, the leadingsides having inclined surfaces to assist in supplying oil to form films.

6. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of segmental shoes cooperating therewith, means for supplying oil to the leading edge of each shoe, and means to deflect oil discharged from the leaving edgeof each shoe, whereby the leading edge of each shoe may be supplied with relatively cool uncontaminated oil.

7. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of segmental shoes cooperating therewith, an oil supply communicating with the inner ends of the shoes, means for blocking the spaces between the shoes, and means affording communication between the leading-edge of each shoe and said supply.

8. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of segmental shoes cooperating therewith, an oil supply communicating with the inner ends of the shoes, means for blocking the spaces betweenthe shoes, the leading edge of each shoe being inclined in the direction of lead, and means affording communication between the leading edge of each shoe and said supply.

9. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of segmental shoes cooperating therewith, an oil supply communicating with the inner ends of the shoes, meansztor blocking the passages between the shoes, baffles between the shoes to deflect oil discharged from the leaving edges thereof, and means affording communication between said supply and the leading edges of the shoes.

10. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of tiltably mounted shoes cooperating with the collar, means to supply lubricant to the leading edge of each shoe, and means cooperating with the collar to deflect lubricant passing from the leaving edge of each shoe to prevent contamination with the leading edge supply.

11. in a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality or tiltably mounted shoes spaced apart, a hafiie carried by the leading edge of each shoe to deflect lubricant discharged from the leaving edge of the preceding shoe,

and means to supply lubricant to the leading edges of the shoes and in the rear of the baffles.

12. lln a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a pluralit ot tiltab-ly mounted segmental shoes with radial spaces therebetween, a radial bafile carried bv the leading ed e of each shoe to detlect lubricant escaping from the leaving edge of a preceding shoe, and means to supply lubricant to the edges of the shoes in the rear of the baflles.

13. ln a thrust hearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of spaced-apart, tiltably-mounted shoes cooperating with the collar, baffle means cooperating with the leading edge or" each shoe to deflect lubricant escap' "from the leaving edge of the precedi shoe, means for blocking the spaces bet een the shoes, and means carried by the lead n edge of each shoe for supplying lubricant thereto in the rear the battle.

a l. A. shoe for a thrust bearing having a battle followed by an oil supply chamber at the leading side of tee shoe.

15. A sh e for a thrust bearing having baffle followed by oil supply chamber at the leading side thereof and an oil-escape port for the chamber.

16. A segmental shoe for a thrust hearing having a radial baffle followed by a adial oil supply chamber which in turn is followed by an inclined sin face at leading side of the shoe.

17. In a thrust bearing, a thrust collar, a plurality of segmental shoes cooperati therewith, an oil supply communicating wit-l the inner ends of the shoes, baffles car ed by the shoes to block the radial spaces therebe tween, a radial chamber follower by an inclined surface at the leading side of each shoe, an escape port in the outer end of each chamber to assure suliicient cir i to keep the oil cool, a baffle constitutin the forward wall of each chamber to deflect oilpassing from the leaving side of a preceding shoe.

18. A. process of lubrication which consists in injecting oil into a bearing for the pro-- gressive formation of a tapering film and in removing the oil immediately has passed through the thin-portion film stage to prevent com-mingling thereof with the injected oil.

19. A process of circulating oil through a hearing which consists in feeding oil to a suitable portion of the bearing for the formation of load-sustaining, tapering oil film and in immediately removing the oil after it has constituted a film of diminishing thickness prevent comniin'gling thereof with the oil being fed, whereby the oil the bearing is prevented from overheating.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name this second Aw gust, 1921.

JGSEAH F. 

